Bush: Taiwan separatists are like mosquitoes attacking an elephant

President Hu meets with US President George W. Bush

Over a month, US President George W. Bush talked over phone with Chinese President Hu Jintao twice to express he was looking forward to meeting Hu at the APEC leaders' summit. At 8:30 am, November 20, President Bush, only a dozen hours after his arrival in Santiago, Chile, started his first bilateral talk there -- with Chinese President Hu Jintao, which lasted 50 minutes.

Bush says Taiwan separatists are "mosquitoes attacking an elephant"

According to a reliable source, the talk was held in a particularly light and friendly atmosphere. Bush was the first to mention Taiwan. He says Washington understands the sensitivity of the Taiwan question and that it will stick to the one-China policy, abide by the three joint communiques that US signed with China in the development of their relations, and oppose any words or deeds to unilaterally alter the status quo and declare "independence," and give no inconsistent signals to the Taiwan authorities over that issue.

But it seemed Bush was not fully aware of the seriousness of the splitting clamor from Taiwan. He appeared quite surprised when President Hu stressed the "independence" nature of Chen Shui-bian authorities and mentioned their wild talks of attacking certain mainland cities and facilities. He shrugged and sighed, "It's ridiculous! They are like mosquitoes who want to attack an elephant!"

Hu made it clear that "Taiwan independence" has posed a threat to Sino-US relations, as well as a direct threat to regional security and stability. The current cross-Straits situation is complicated and sensitive. The Taiwan authority still stubbornly adheres to its separatist stance, saying, "Taiwan is a sovereign state" and refuses to recognize the "92 Consensus" which embodies the "One China" principle. They have been seeking for splitting the island from China by means of "constitutional reform" and "legitimate independence". It is a core interest of China to safeguard the national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Chinese government has consistently adhered to the principle of "peaceful reunification, and one country, two systems", and is willing, with the utmost sincerity, to make all efforts to solve the Taiwan question in a peaceful way so as to realize complete reunification of the motherland. We will by no means tolerate "Taiwan independence" and we will never allow anybody to tear Taiwan away from China.

Bush nodded and smiled upon Hu's remarks, and said that Washington will make sure not to send wrong signals and not to mislead people into believing the US supports "Taiwan independence".

Strategic dialogues to be enhanced

To build a stronger constructive cooperative partnership and promote bilateral ties, said Hu, the two sides should make efforts in actively keeping high-ranking exchanges. Efforts should also be made in enhancing strategic talks, giving full play to the role of the three joint commissions and pushing forward sound cooperation in commerce, trade, finance and sci-tech. The two countries should, according to double-way and mutual-benefit principles, continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the fields of anti-terrorism, law enforcement, public health and environmental protection, as well as continue to conduct close consultations and coordination over the issues including the nuclear issue in the Korean Peninsula, Iraqi reconstruction and other international and regional questions.

Bush listened earnestly and agreed. He stressed that US-China ties is one of the most important bilateral relations between US and China. China is a great country in continuous development, and is a source for stability, trade and business development. Based on the past four years, the US is willing to strengthen cooperation with the Chinese side, push forward bilateral ties and meanwhile enhance consultations and coordination between the two countries on major international and regional issues for a better world.

After the talks, Bush invited Hu Jintao to say a few words to reporters. Hu told the press that he just exchanged views with President Bush over a wide range of issues. Both sides are satisfied over the active progress made in building the constructive cooperative partnership. Both sides agree that Bush's second term will be an important period of Sino-US relations, and the two sides must make joint efforts to keep up coordination and cooperation in various fields as well as over international and regional issues. Hu appreciated Bush's stance on continuous sticking to "One China" principle, observing the three China-US joint communiqu¨¦s and opposing "Taiwan independence". Both sides agreed to solve the DPRK nuclear issue through talks and by peaceful means within the framework of the six-party talks.

Bush told reporters that he had frank talks with President Hu Jintao, and he is looking forward to working together with Hu in the coming four years to safeguard peace in the Korean Peninsula, in Asia-Pacific and even in the world, as well as to make the two peoples more prosperous and develop commerce and trade links beneficial to both.

Bush's remarks, as analysts pointed out, indicate his more understanding of China and US-China relations, which are not limited by concrete questions. Under such understanding, Taiwan separatists will imagine themselves as the favorites and overestimating themselves if they should boldly pin hope on becoming a tool of the United States. Reliable resources say Chinese vice foreign minister Dai Bingguo will soon visit the United States as a special envoy for the first strategic talks after the presidential election. It can be predicted that strategic talks will emerge as a new feature in Sino-US relations during the four years to come.

Hu invites Bush to 2008 Beijing Olympics

For his part, Bush gave invitation by telling Hu that next year you will come to visit the United States, that must be a unique visit. It will show to the world the importance of US-China relations and its good development. Hu thanked Bush for his invitation.

Both leaders told press the invitations exchanged between them, sending a signal of enhanced high-ranking visits. Documents showed that Hu and Bush had phone conversations on May 29, July 30, October 7 and November 8 respectively this year. What's more, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing had a record of 17 phone talks and face-to-face conversations with US Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. Signs have shown that high-ranking communications are on the rise.

The historic moment of the two leaders shaking hands and smiling has been frozen in pictures, and people can expect the next -- a unique visit at a certain time next year.

This article by Wu Qimin is carried on the second page of the Global Times, November 26, 2004, and translated by People's Daily Online